Kwikbolt aircraft assembly AM part Frazer nash Renishaw

Frazer-Nash Manufacturing, a British engineering firm, has additively manufactured (AM) a small batch of fastener parts which are to be used during aircraft assembly for Kwikbolt.

Kwikbolt is a company specialising in the design of temporary fasteners for the aerospace and defence industries. Offering a portfolio of five products, Kwikbolt's fasteners can be used hundreds of times and boast clamping capabilities to ensure correct placement.

Frazer Nash has recently leveraged Renishaw’s AM 400 metal 3D printing system to manufacture these fastener parts, which are used to align aircraft panels and fuselage in the assembly of aircraft. By printing the parts rather than producing them traditionally, custom geometries have been integrated into the design of the components, and tooling is no longer required for each panel. It has meant savings in cost and time.

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The Hampshire-based company has been using Renishaw’s 3D printing technology for around five years, first taking on the AM 250 system and now graduating to the AM 400. Frazer Nash supplies a host of companies in the aerospace sector, notably harnessing metal AM to print parts for Skyrora’sLeo engine combustion chamber, and is also AS9100 certified. The company has maintained good relations with Renishaw since 2015 and is now printing thousands of parts a year with the company’s AM technology.

“By using AM, Frazer Nash is able to produce components cost-effectively in small batch sizes,” commented Stuart Offer, AM Sales Manager, Renishaw. “In contrast to machining, no custom tooling is required, which results in improvements in speed and a reduction in manufacturing costs, particularly for such a difficult to machine part.”

“The Kwikbolt project is a true AM success story,” added Paul Mortlock, Managing Director at Frazer Nash. “Using AM means we can easily produce a bespoke component based on each aerospace customer’s requirements. Renishaw’s AM systems have been flawless since we started working together. Frazer Nash now produces 25,000 AM parts a year and has expanded its range of components.”